Pump Rentals

I make milk.

What’s your superpower?

— Anonymous milk-making superhero

Hospital-Grade Breast Pump Rentals (and more)

Sometimes we just need a few tools to get back into milk-making superhero form. As Oakland’s only full-service breastfeeding support center, we have Medela Symphony hospital-grade breast pump rentals and accessories; sell breastfeeding tools, like nipple ointment and the Simple-Wishes hands-free pumping bra; and have a small offering of mom and baby stuff we love.

Check to see if we have a hospital-grade breast pump rental available by contacting us via phone at 510-817-2229 (BABY) or by clicking here then click on the button of the rental period you prefer below, and pay online.

We understand how important it is to get a pump quickly when you need one: If you need a hospital-grade pump in off-hours, we will do our best to arrange an alternate pick-up spot. Just be in touch and we’ll see how we can help.

Oakland/ Alameda County Sales Tax will be added to all retail items purchased or rented. A pump rental deposit of $250 is required and it is fully refunded if pump is returned per the rental agreement.

“My experience with the pump rental was fantastic, just about as good as it can get… My rental agreement was month-to-month and it was simple to renew using their website… I am so thankful the pump was available when I needed it and the staff at Then Comes Baby was so easy to work with. The pump was essential in helping me continue to breastfeed through the first year of my baby’s life, which was a major goal of mine.” — Allison B., Oakland

Stuff We Love

We also carry a small boutique of our favorite baby or mom items, a finely curated set of things we love as parents, or wish we knew about earlier ourselves! Babies ‘R Us we are not, but we hope you’ll like our favorite things just as much as we do! Talk to us in advance and we can prepare your purchase to have it ready for a quick pick-up!

Pumps & Stuff

It’s entirely possible it will — under the Affordable Care Act insurance companies are obligated to provide a breast pump to breastfeeding mothers. But, beware: many insurance companies have stipulations stating that they will cover breast pumps one time only — and if you get reimbursed for, say, a one-week rental, you are no longer eligible for the free personal use double-pump (which often cost ~$300 out-of-pocket). This is all to say that you should be cautious, check with your insurance company, and that it may be in your better interest not to seek reimbursement. (We will, however, provide you with the appropriate paperwork to do so if you wish).

Well, there are market forces at play here, but there are also legitmate differences and functions of pumps. To put it simply, there are:

Handheld pumps or single battery-pumps: Good for the occasional use once your milk supply is well established. It’s helpful as a back-up pump on-the-go. Or, it can be used in the early weeks to help relieve engorgement if your baby isn’t doing the trick or help to stimulate a flat or inverted nipple.

Personal grade double-electric pumps (Like Medela Pump N Style or Ameda Purely Yours): These are an excellent choice for moms with a well-established milk supply who are going to be separated from their baby for more than a few hours, such as going back to work.

Hospital grade double-electric pumps: These are the big kahuna of breast pumps and if a pump is needed in the first month for breastfeeding difficulties, or for induced lactation, or to make milk over several months for premature infants, this is the pump for you.

The best advice we have is for you to consider the reason why you need to pump and how frequently, then buy/ rent the best type of pump you can afford. (Speaking of affordability, that calculation may need to consider the cost of formula, too, since that may be your the alternative to not pumping).

To answer the last question first, many women don’t need or want to use a breast pump at all, and that should be A-Okay if your are practicing “baby led” breastfeeding, your baby is breastfeeding at least eight times a day (most moms see that their baby “asks” to nurse 9-10 times/ 24 hours), is gaining weight well, and you are not separated for more than a few hours at a time.

See the previous question to understand a bit more about the different types of pumps out there, but if you are in the first few weeks postpartum and/ or your baby is not nursing well enough to pull enough milk out your breast each feeding, then yes, a hospital-grade pump is absolutely appropriate in your situation.

Hospital grade pumps are the strongest, most durable pump type available, with a powerful motor that provides a higher level of suction and more efficient pumping. Personal grade pumps simply weren’t designed to establish a milk supply the way that hospital grade pumps do. Hosptial grade pumps effectively drain milk from your breasts, which not only provides milk at that moment to offer your little one, but it works to adequately increase your breast milk production, and helps your body make the long-term milk-making cells that are “laid down” in the first few weeks postpartum.

There are many different reasons that using a Hospital Grade breastpump is the appropriate choice, including (but not limited to):

Increasing low milk supply

Protecting and promoting your milk supply if you need to skip a feeding at the breast/ are supplementing with expressed milk or formula

If your baby is nursing well and you have a well-established supply, chances are no. But, with a hospital-grade pump, if you were to “double pump” (pumping each breast at the same time) for each missed or not-so-effective feeding for 10-15 minutes, and pause to hand express milk midway through that pumping session and/ or at the end, you are much more likely to meet your milk production needs. (See our Ask the Expert page to learn about hand expression of breast milk).

It depends on the type of breast pump it is. While personal use breast pumps are designed to be used by only one mother (and are not guaranteed to work effectively after one year, generally), hospital-grade pumps are designed and approved by the FDA to be safe for multiple users. They are intended to be used by more than one mom and are designed with barriers that prevent cross-contamination. However, each woman using the pump will need to use her own pump kit. When pumps are returned to Then Comes Baby the pump exterior is sanitized prior to being available to rent to a new family.

Pump kits and other accessories are available for sale at Then Comes Baby (or lactation visits in your home).